By GEORGE STAHL
In a world of constant change and restructuring, it is good to know that there are at least two things we can count on not going anywhere. The new CEO of Costco announced that his first executive decision with the company is that the price for a $1.50 hot dog combo will not be increased. Despite the fact that Costco will be losing $3.00 per hot dog, they will not adjust the price to reflect the economy. In fact, CEO, Gary Millerchip went on to say that as long as the hotdog deal brings in customers, the price will never be more than $1.50. However, the pizza, churros, and sundaes, and all other ready to eat products at the hot dog stand will see an increase. Not sure how much, but you can rest assured it will be enough to cover the hotdog loss. On the other hand, that really chocolaty, double chocolate chunk cookie will remain at its price of $2.49 also. So, for a very long time to come you can enjoy a hot dog, a soft drink and a chocolate double chunk cookie for only $3.93. Don’t forget the free samples that vendors give out around the frozen foods section. If there are enough of them you might even get lunch. What about that delicious and well-priced rotisserie chicken Costco is so famously known for? So far, as of the printing of this article, no word has been given out on the price fate of these mouthwatering foul.
Speculation is that Millerchip will extend his generosity to include the chickens. Count on it! Now that phrase sounds an awful lot like, Trust me, and we all know how far that can get you.
The stuff we can ‘count on’, we can count on one finger. So, it seems anymore anyway. Remember the guy in the Texaco commercials? Of course you don’t, who am I kidding? Well look, kids. Once upon a time in the world of service stations and attendants who filled your gas tank and washed your windshield with some magic window cleaner and a brown paper towel, there was a man who you could find only at a Texaco Station. We only knew him by the name, ‘Man’ but he was definitely somebody you could trust. We know this because the commercial with him in it said so, ‘You can trust your car to the man who wears the star, the big bright Texaco star.’ That slogan came out in the 1960’s and has been a household hymn ever since. It’s one of those things that once you hear it you realize that it’s a small world after all. Oh no! As Britiny says, ‘Oops I did it again!’
We are constantly being told that we can trust someone, that we can count on a particular company or service. By who? Clerks, service people who we invite into our homes with a certain amount of trust? Services advertised on the T.V. and over the internet ask us to trust them. Remember, we do not know these people from Adam! Don’t for the love of life trust them!
Then there are the government people we are supposed to trust. To count on. Well, that ain’t happening! Remember President Kennedy? John F. Kennedy for those of you under fifty. He was the 35th President of the United States. He said once on national T.V. “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” A great slogan he used in his inauguration speech? Sure, but where are we now? Asking it seems has been on the uprise for a lot of years by a lot of people and has gotten to the point where we don’t have to even ask. The faucet of giving has been turned on and it has a strong leak. I suppose if you want to, you can say that that is something we can count on. Naw, the well will run dry on that sometime too.
Count on your family? Probably. Count on your neighbors? Sometimes, Count on your church? Hopefully. Count on your insurance, grocery stores, banks, service people, or cable, satellite and internet T.V. provider? As long as there is no signal interruption. Looks like it goes right back to where we started, count on Costco and $1.50 hot dog combo along with the $2.49 chocolaty, chocolate, double chunk cookie. At least, for now.
